Tag Archive | vodka

Homemade Bottles of Creme de Menthe

Dec15
Homemade Bottles of Creme de Menthe

Homemade Bottles of Creme de Menthe

Homemade Bottles of Crème de Menthe make ideal holiday gifts from your kitchen. Perfect for when friends come to call, you can share some of this seasonal sipper with them and then send them home with a bottle too.

You can pick up small glass bottles that are just right for storing this yummy drink at places like Target. Simply attach a tag noting that refrigeration is required.

And if you like making holiday goodies to share with those near and dear then pick up a copy of my latest book, Cooking, Baking, and Making: 100 Recipes and DIY Ideas for All Seasons and Reasons.

Cooking, Baking, and Making: 100 Recipes and DIY Ideas for All Seasons and Reasons

Cooking, Baking, and Making: 100 Recipes and DIY Ideas for All Seasons and Reasons

In it you’ll find easy to make recipes and project ideas to take you through all the seasons of the year. Here are some easy yet elegant holiday ideas featured in the book:

Creamy Eggnog Cupcakes (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Creamy Eggnog Cupcakes (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Christmas Ornament (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Christmas Ornament (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Winter Centerpiece (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Winter Centerpiece (from Cooking, Baking, and Making)

Here’s to a happy holiday season. Cheers!

Homemade Bottles of Crème de Menthe

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups fresh mint leaves, torn, divided
Cheesecloth
1 1/4 cups vodka
3 to 4 drops green food color (optional)
Glass bottles such as small milk bottles

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, and 1 cup mint leaves. Heat over medium heat until sugar has dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in the remaining 1 cup mint leaves. Let stand four hours, stirring occasionally.

Place a strainer over a pitcher; cover strainer with cheesecloth. Pour mixture into cheesecloth; use a wooden spoon to press on mint. Squeeze cheesecloth to extract as much liquid as possible Remove strainer and cheesecloth. Add vodka and food color, if desired. Stir to combine. Pour into bottles. Cover, and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Makes 16 servings

Cranberry Martini

Dec26

As seen on WKTV NEWSChannel 2 Harried Housewife Cranberry Martini

Cranberry Martini

Cranberry Martini

Add an elegant touch to New Year’s Eve celebrations by whipping up a colorful cocktail that will toast the evening in style.

By combining a few ingredients, a refreshing drink can be ready to serve in no time. You also can add a dash of vermouth, if desired. And it’s just as easy to double or triple the recipe. Make it even more festive by adding a skewer of fresh cranberries to the drink.

Sophisticated, romantic, and always in good taste, a martini is a delightful choice when it comes to ringing in the New Year. Here’s wishing you and your family a happy and healthy New Year. Cheers!

CRANBERRY MARTINI

Crushed ice
5 tablespoons cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
3 tablespoons vodka
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
Fill a martini shaker 3/4 full with ice. Add cranberry juice cocktail, vodka, and orange juice. Cover and shake. Strain into a martini glass. Makes 1 serving.

Blue Citrus Cocktails

Aug27

As seen on WKTV NEWSChannel 2 Harried Housewife Blue Citrus Cocktails

Blue Citrus Cocktails

Blue Citrus Cocktails

Savor the essence of a tropical island by sipping on a vibrant drink brimming with refreshing citrus flavor.

Quick to prepare and perfect for Labor Day celebrations or any occasion, this swanky drink looks even more dazzling in this Infinity Pitcher from Anchor Hocking.

When it comes to squeezing out every drop of the fleeting days of summer, this colorful drink makes it easy.

Cheers!

BLUE CITRUS COCKTAILS

4 cups lemonade, chilled
2 cups blue curacao
3/4 cup vodka
3/4 cup cold water
Juice of 1 medium lemon
Ice cubes
Tropical flowers (optional)
In a large pitcher, combine lemonade, blue curacao, vodka, water, and lemon juice; stir well. Place ice cubes in glasses; pour lemonade mixture over ice cubes. Garnish with tropical flowers, if desired. Makes 10 servings

Thanks to Anchor Hocking for providing drinkware

Easy Cherry Lemonade

Jul2

As seen on WKTV NEWSChannel 2 Harried Housewife Easy Cherry Lemonade

Easy Cherry Lemonade

Easy Cherry Lemonade

Lemonade is good enough on its own, but it’s easy to add a tantalizing twist to this summertime favorite with the addition of maraschino cherries.

Jarred maraschino cherries and a bit of their juice combine deliciously with lemonade for a seasonal drink that’s great for entertaining. To ensure outdoor gatherings are a breeze, use this Oneida iced pitcher and store in the fridge until right before serving.

The fruit infusion rod that’s in the middle of the pitcher is ideal for layering lemon wedges and maraschino cherries to add extra flavor to this drink, but you can infuse water or just about any beverage with your choice of fruit and stash in the fridge until ready to serve. Refill the pitcher as often as you like and replace the fruit every 7 to 10 days.

For adults, add a splash of vodka to your glass before serving if desired. When it comes to enjoying every drop of the fleeting days of summer, this crowd-pleasing recipe and the fruit infusion pitcher make it easy.

EASY CHERRY LEMONADE

1 (2-quart serving size) envelope lemon flavor unsweetened soft drink mix
3/4 cup sugar
8 cups cold water
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
Juice of 1 medium lemon
Lemon wedges
Maraschino cherries
Ice cubes
In a large pitcher, combine drink mix, sugar, water, cherry juice, and lemon juice. Add lemon wedges and maraschino cherries. Place ice cubes in glasses; pour cherry lemonade over ice cubes. Makes 8 servings.

Thanks to Oneida for providing serveware

Easy Spiked Lemonade

Mar1

As seen on WKTV NEWSChannel 2 Harried Housewife Easy Spiked Lemonade

Easy Spiked Lemonade

Easy Spiked Lemonade

Squeezed for time but would like to enjoy a glass of fresh-tasting lemonade spiked with a splash of vodka? Then grab a package of lemon flavored drink mix and a few pantry staples and you’ll be on your way to a refreshing glass of spiked lemonade in no time.

While most lemonade recipes call for making simple syrup, this recipe takes a shortcut and makes good use of packaged drink mix and a couple of lemons. No one will guess that this tangy drink takes only minutes to stir up—making it the perfect recipe to sip at any summertime get-together.

So when it comes to enjoying every drop of summer, this crowd-pleasing recipe makes it easy. Cheers!

EASY SPIKED LEMONADE

1 (2-quart serving size) envelope lemon flavor unsweetened soft drink mix
1 cup sugar
8 cups cold water
3/4 cup vodka
Juice of 1 medium lemon
1 medium lemon, sliced
Ice cubes
Fresh mint (optional)
In a large pitcher, combine drink mix, sugar, water, vodka, and lemon juice. Add sliced lemon; stir well. Place ice cubes in glasses; pour lemonade mixture over ice cubes. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired. Makes 8 servings.

You also can get this recipe and enter to win a copy of The Harried Housewife’s Cookbook here.